Does the Red Cross accept “In-Kind” donations (food, clothing, supplies)?
Unfortunately we are not able to accept individual donations or collections of items such as clothing, food or cleaning supplies. The cost to sort, package and distribute these types of donations to disaster victims is almost always greater than the cost of purchasing the items locally, and it is logistically impossible to distribute a wide variety of individual items in a meaningful and equitable way. In addition, purchasing such items locally and in quantity assists the recovery of the local economy, while importing them ties up vital distribution networks. Because of these cost and logistical concerns, we recommend that you donate such items to a local neighborhood or New York city-wide organization that is equipped to put them to the best possible local use, or perhaps sell them to raise money for a donation. Examples of items we regretfully cannot accept: Used clothing Used cars/trucks/vans Miscellaneous new clothing Miscellaneous computer/communications/audiovisual equipment Food
